Delivering more
RWE npower have a number of longstanding community programmes and partnerships in place and employee engagement is a key feature. The company has developed a strategic framework to guide their investment in the community with support focusing on :
- Improving health in communities
- Protecting the environment
- Enhancing education and improving understanding of energy and climate change
The company has delivered support to communities across these themes, whilst also delivering benefits for the business:
- RWE npower runs the Health Through Warmth (HTW) programme, which addresses fuel poverty and protects vulnerable people. Key community workers identify vulnerable households, who are provided with energy efficiency and heating measures, along with related advice and information and a benefits entitlement check. Between 2008 and 2010, 21,990 people were assisted through the scheme, who were able to access over £24 million of support.
- RWE npower delivers the Climate Cops programme in schools. The programme educates and encourages people to save energy and to move to a low carbon economy. The company provides free curriculum resources, interactive ‘Climate Cop Academy’ events and an interactive website. Between 2008 and 2010, 596 Academy events were delivered to 38,306 children by 1,025 employees. Three months later, 95% of the children who took part in the events remembered ways to save energy and 81% had checked their homes and schools to see how they could save energy.
- The company committed to conducting 150 energy audits in schools and provide support to 15 schools in implementing the measures identified. Through this activity, RWE npower has identified 10,733 tonnes of CO2 savings, leveraged £355,000 of additional funding for schools and achieved annual savings of £96,428/2,423,564 kWh.
Delivering in partnership
RWE npower has demonstrated how the company works in partnership with community organisations to deliver benefits to both the business and communities. RWE npower’s approach to developing partnerships focuses on partners who are experts in their field and can demonstrate the positive community impact of their work. The company also seeks ways to develop community partners whilst delivering support with them. They have worked with Macmillan Cancer Support since 2004. Macmillan are RWE npower’s corporate charity partner, and benefit from dedicated fundraising. In addition, the company works with Macmillan to support customers and employees living with cancer.
In April 2011, RWE npower and Macmillan developed a bespoke sponsored 10k run, led by Volker Beckers, RWE npower’s CEO. 108 runners raised £16,959 for Macmillan. Macmillan were also able to take away the learning gained from developing a bespoke event for a company to develop a new offering for other companies. They are now using this model to review how they can unlock new income streams across existing corporate partners and help to win new partnerships in the future.
For more information on RWE npower’s approach to community investment, please visit http://www.npower.com/rwenpowercr/5_community_investment_and_employee_engagement/5_4_our_community/
